The Maiden Warrior

by Mary Reed McCall

Book Overview

MARKED BY DESTINY... Born under signs of prophecy, baby Gwynne is believed to be the legendary warrior from Avalon brought to new life. But the Welsh rebels' rejoicing is short-lived, for, desperate to protect her babe from a life of brutality and war, Gwynne's mother steals her away and hides her with Druids. With them Gwynne grows in peace, finding forbidden love with a handsome English youth - until the day her father, the powerful warlord Prince...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 150760209X
• ISBN13: 9781507602096
• Release Date: February 2015
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 254 Pages
• Weight: 0.83 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

"A stirring romance where love conquers all"

Destiny has marked Gwynne ap Moran as the Dark Legend, a mythic warrior thought to be King Arthur reborn, and the savior of Wales. Her gender matters naught when Gwynne possesses the prophesized markings: silver eyes, black hair and a healing touch that burns from within. On the battlefield, this maiden warrior is fiercely combative -- her every move is smooth and sinuous, thanks be to her intensive training. When such ferocious skill is coupled with her helm and chain mail, Gwynne's gender is an indistinct thing.Aidan de Brice is therefore shocked, and his sword arm benumbed, to discover this savage enemy of the English Crown is really a woman whose quicksilver eyes are bristling with feral intensity. 'Twas nigh on half a lifetime ago he last gazed into that selfsame hue whilst handfasting himself to a laughing, carefree girl. An ambush by the Welsh cut their joy short that day, however, and forever bloodied Aidan's memories of Gwynne ap Moran, the woman of his heart. To confront her now in the heat of battle (when he thought her naught but a ghost of memory) is almost a killing kindness to the man known as the Scourge of Wales.Having set this trap into motion, Aidan is obligated to mete out the King's justice and bring the Legend to heel by escorting him back to England, and thus, his death. 'Tis a grave shock to learn the woman he loved and thought long dead is the mythic figure King Henry is so rabid to destroy. Although his duty is clear, Aidan is torn between obligation and a life debt owed to Gwynne, a stranger -- nay, an enemy -- who claims to remember naught of her past. If Aidan can prod those memories to life, perhaps all is not lost.They can never regain the time lost to them, though, as Aidan is betrothed to another woman and must see that marriage through for his sister's sake. He can do naught but rouse Gwynne's memory and hope she'll remember what the Welsh did to her -- to them -- that day. Only then will a living Legend refuse to take up arms again. But will Aidan and Gwynne's uneasy truce bear the fruit of love or wither their hearts further with a barren, unpalatable truth?Mary Reed McCall is slashing through stereotypes like a warrior goddess in her second novel for Avon Books. Although I cringed at Gwynne's violent lifestyle, her divided loyalties provide this novel with a poignant, heart-rending appeal. THE MAIDEN WARRIOR is a magical journey through divisive territory. Aidan and Gwynne are star-crossed lovers trying to assimilate their shared past with a present that brands them as enemies. A relationship between them is forbidden for obvious reasons. Despite all of that, Ms. McCall has written a stirring romance where love conquers all -- eventually -- and a reader is happily captivated by the unfolding drama.While Gwynne is struggling with the emotional repercussions of her resurfacing memories, Aidan is struggling against his heart's desire. His family name has been blemished in the past; he can't aff

exciting medieval romance

In 1177 on the English Wales border, Aidan de Brice and Gwynne ap Moran marry. However, before they consummate their union, warriors with blue paint on their visage arrive. They abduct Gwynne leaving a stunned Aidan to suffer nightmares over the years wondering the fate of his beloved.Twelve years later Aidan lays a trap to capture the Dark Legend, a clear threat to English control of Wales. When he faces the myth he sees a real person, but the face leaves him in shock because the Dark Legend is his beloved Gwynne whom he is seeing for the first time since the kidnapping. They still feel the lingering attraction of their once all consuming love, but Gwynne leads the Welsh rebels and the loyal Englishman Aidan wants to end the rebellion.THE MAIDEN WARRIOR is an exciting medieval romance starring two star-crossed loves whose first chance together was disrupted making a second chance almost impossible. Gwynne is a wonderful Joan of Arc-like heroine whose conflict between her heart and her responsibility tears at her soul and hooks the reader to care what happens to her. The audience will also reach out to Aidan, also struggling with divergent loyalties. Though the ending seems a bit simplistic, fans will cherish this strong tale that provides insight into dangerous times through the respective eyes of the strong lead characters. With novels like this one Mary Reed McCall will not remain a secret to all the historical romance readers much longer.Harriet Klausner